What are Family Hubs?
Family Hubs are local centres that bring health visitors, speech therapists, parenting classes and other support services together in one place. Families can drop in for help with everything from breastfeeding to teenage mental health.
If you're unsure whether your child is developing as expected between hub visits, you can use our free Developmental Milestone Checker.
The government is expanding these centres across England. Some areas already have several hubs running, while others are converting existing children's centres or starting from scratch.
Most hubs support families from pregnancy through to age 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs. This wider age range sets them apart from the old Sure Start centres, which focused on under-fives.
Finding your nearest hub
Your local council website may list Family Hub locations, though some councils use different names like Start for Life centres. Try searching for "[your council name] Family Hub" or check their family services pages.
Health visitors, GP surgeries and libraries often know where the nearest hub is. Some areas don't have dedicated buildings yet and run services from children's centres, libraries or community venues instead.
Coverage varies widely. Urban areas tend to have more hubs, while rural counties might rely on outreach services that visit different locations each week.
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Services differ between hubs based on local needs and funding. A hub in central Manchester might specialise in support for families where English isn't the first language. One in rural Norfolk might focus on transport links and mobile services.
Most hubs offer:
- Health visitor appointments and baby weighing
- Speech and language therapy assessments
- Support for children with additional needs
- Parenting courses and workshops
- Breastfeeding support
- Mental health services
- Benefits and housing advice
- Stay and play sessions
Larger hubs might have midwife appointments, children's physiotherapy, autism assessments, sensory rooms or toy libraries. Some run specialist groups for young parents or families with premature babies.
Any family living locally can use most hub services, though eligibility rules vary between councils. Some specialist services have waiting lists. Staff are trained to be welcoming and understand that asking for help takes courage.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
From Sure Start to Family Hubs
Sure Start centres emerged in the late 1990s and became familiar sights in many communities. They offered baby groups, parenting classes and health visitor clinics for families with young children. Many closed or reduced services after 2010, though local factors also played a part in these changes.
Family Hubs aim to rebuild this provision while extending support to older children and teenagers. Where Sure Start focused on baby massage and toddler groups, Family Hubs might also help with school attendance problems or youth mental health.
The idea is to coordinate services that previously operated separately. A parent worried about their toddler's speech could see a therapist, get activities to try at home, and join a communication playgroup without trailing between different buildings.
Some hubs achieve this integration better than others. A few are essentially rebranded children's centres with limited extra services. Others have genuinely brought multiple agencies together.
Making the most of services
Regular sessions like stay and play usually welcome drop-ins. Appointments with speech therapists or family workers need booking in advance.
Specific examples help professionals understand your concerns. Note down which sounds your child makes, whether they follow instructions, and how they communicate needs. This gives staff more to work with than general worries.
Virtual services have expanded since the pandemic. Online parenting courses, video health visitor appointments and digital coffee mornings suit families who struggle with transport or childcare. Some speech therapy assessments now start online before moving to face-to-face sessions.
Outreach workers take services into communities, running groups in village halls or schools. This helps families who find the main hub hard to reach or prefer familiar venues.
Waiting times vary dramatically. General advice might be available immediately, while specialist therapy could take months. Health visitors at the hub can sometimes arrange faster referrals to paediatricians than going through your GP.
Current funding arrangements mean services continue to vary between areas. Councils in deprived areas often receive extra government money, though stretched local budgets can limit what they provide. The long-term sustainability of hubs depends on continued funding, which isn't guaranteed.
For now, these centres offer valuable free support when many families face rising costs and service cuts elsewhere. Even if your local hub can't help directly, staff usually know what other local support exists. Check what's available near you.
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